Improvement in shanks for boots



F. P. BUBEN.

Shanks for Boots, 610.

NO. 138,851. Patented May13.1873.

AM PHOTG-LITHUGRAPHIC ca NZ [osson/vs's PRoL-Ess.)

STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

FIELDING PETER BUREN, OF TRENTON, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO SAMUEL MGGEE, OF MARTINSBURG, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHANKS FOR BO OT S, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,851, dated May 13, 1873; application filed March 14, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FIELDING PETER BU- REN, of Trenton, in the county of Grundy and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shanks for Boots and Shoes 5 and I do hereby declare the following to'be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which forms part of this specification.

The purpose of my invention is to obviate the many disadvantages experienced in the application and use of shanks for boots and shoes of the ordinary description. The plain steel shank commonly used has many bad features, among which are its liability to break when great strain is brought to bear upon the instep portion of the boot or shoe 5 its non-conformity to the spring of the foot in walking, and to the various shapes of the foot; the impossibility of fastening down properly the half-sole in repairing boots or shoes in which it is used, and a great many other drawbacks well known to the trade, which it is unnecessary here further to enumerate.

My improvement consists in making the shank of one continuous piece of round, oval, or flat metallic wire, substantially as illustrated in the drawing forming part of this specification, to which is added a spring of tempered wire.

On the sheet of drawing, Figure 1 represents a plan of the shank with the spring attached. Fig.2 is a side view of the shank with the spring attached; and Fig. 3 is the spring detached from the shank.

In the figures, A is the shank, and B is the spring, made of a separate piece of round, oval, or flat wire, tempered to the requisite degree of hardness and elasticity. The wire, after tempering, is cut to the desired length, doubled, andbent or curved at one end, so as to form a looped hook, as shown by a in the different figures. It is then slid or looped onto the projecting middle piece I) of the shank, which is then ready for use.

The shank itself I form by twisting, by any suitable means, a length of soft metallic wire, round, oval, or flat, intothe shape illustrated in the drawing. I do not, however, confine myself to the precise shape shown in the drawing, as the wire may be twisted or formed into any other shape that may prove serviceable. B y cutting the wire into different lengths a greater or lesser number of turns or twist? ings can be provided, making the body of the shank more or less open, as may be found desirable.

After the desired shape has been attained, the separate strands of wire are fastened together or united at the narrowest point of the body of the shank, indicated by the letter a in the figures, in a substantial manner, by soldering or any other suitable means. I prefer, first, to solder and then apply a narrow strip of tin or other metal for additional strength, and serving also as a rest or bearing for the spring B.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A metallic shank for boots and shoes, made of one piece of round, oval, or flat metal wire, twisted to the desired shape, and united in the middle, substantially as and for they purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a metallic wire shank, the spring B, consisting of a separate piece of tempered wire, made and applied substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of March, 1873.

. F. B. BUREN.

Witnesses:

J. B. ALLEN, J. H. KERFooT. 

